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Name: Great Bittern
Citizenship: Citizen of Europe, Middle Asia and South Africa. Great Bittern is migratory species. It spends the winter at warm Mediterranean coast.
Habitat: It inhabits wetlands with large reed beds such as marshes and lakes overgrown with reed and bulrush. This type of favorite habitats reflects the discrete way of life of the Great Bittern. In the day time the birds hide among the tick wetland vegetation and become active after sunset and before the dawn. It is very difficult to observe this bird as its coloration melt into the surrounding environment. One could easily miss it even passing very closely. With its long neck and golden and brown plumage the Great Bittern resembles reed stalks. It flies very low above the reed in the marshes and lakes and lives almost lonely.
Address in Bulgaria: It is registered at Durankulak and Shabla Lakesq as well as the marshes Tsibarsko and Dragoman. These are the most important places for the species. There are registered up to 3-4 mails. The species is observed also at Atanassovsko and Vaya Lakes and water basins of the complex Mandra-Poda. It is supposed that it inhabits the rivers Maritsa, Struma and Mesta which have large reed beds.
Number: After the last counting in our country the Great Bittern couples are among 20 and 70. This is very low number of a species that in last century inhabits many marshes and rivers in Bulgaria.
Nature conservation status: Endangered species not only in our country but also in Europe. Its number decreases everywhere as a result of destruction of its habitats by draining of the wetlands and turning them into arable lands or construction sites.
Distinctive features: The most distinctive feature is the males booming call in spring. Another interesting fact is that males are polygamous with each mating with up to five females. The females incubate the eggs alone in nests made by dry reed in the water. The males sometimes help with feeding of the offspring but then leave the females.
If you are lucky to see Great Bittern, you will never forget it with its long neck, graceful body standing still among the reeds. It is impossible to here it as the Great Bittern learned to move very quietly.
Favorite hobby: It likes to catch its food. The diet of the Great Bittern is various and includes frogs, snails, shrimps, fishes and even mammals such as small Water Rats. The Great Bitter could also attack some wading birds which do not fly very well.
